Registering table with side guide registering means



Jan. 4, 1966 B. B. PASQUINELLI 3, 7,

REGISTERING TABLE WITH SIDE GUIDE REGISTERING MEANS Filed March 1, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.5

FIG.

INVENTOR.

BRUNO B. PASQUINELLI BY 5 y riff Jan. 4, 1966 B. B. PASQUlNELLl 3,

REGISTERING TABLE WITH SIDE GUIDE REGISTERING MEANS Filed March 1, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.2

INVENTOR.

BRUNO B. PASQUINELLI Jan. 4, 1966 B. B. PASQUINELLI REGISTERING TABLE WITH SIDE GUIDE REGISTERING MEANS Filed March 1, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

BRUNO B. PASQUINELLI United States Patent a .l 4,2 1,443 REGISTERING TABLE WITHSIDE GUIDE REGISTERING MEANS Bruno B. Pasquinelli, Evergreen Park, Ill., assignor to Miehle-Goss-Dertter, Incorporated, Chicago, 111., a corpoi ation of Delaware, I

Filed Mar. 1, 1963, S01. No. 262,018 9 Claims. 01.271 59) The invention relates to sheet feeding mechanism for advancing sheets to front registering guides and has reference in particular to automatically adjustable means for bridging the gap provided in a sheet registering jtable to accommodate lateral adjustments of the side register guides.-

In the normal procedure of feeding sheets to a printing press or other sheet processing machine, the individual sheets are separated from a stack and then advanced by suitable means such as endless tapes, to the front end of a feed table where they are front and side registered before they are fed into the press. The front guides usually have a relatively fixed position regardless of the size of the sheets being processed, but the side guides must be adjustable transversely of the feed table t accommodate sheets of different widths.

Accordingly, a gap is provided in the sheet supporting surface of the feed table to permit lateral adjustments of the side guide mechanisms between maximum and minimum sheet width positions. When minimum width sheets are processed, the side guides are moved to theirinnermost position and under such circumstances the sheets are supported on a central, stationary part of the feed table. When sheets larger than minimum width are processed, however, the side guides are moved outwardly in direct relation to the sheet width and this causes a portion of the gap to be exposed. Thus that portion of each sheet between the central, stationary part of the feed table and the side guide will not be supported as it passes over the s pa To prevent fouling of the sheets under such circumstances it has been the practice heretofore to insert a series of individual bridge elements in the gap to support and guide the sheets. A variable number of said elements would thus have to be inserted and/ or removed each time the side guide is adjusted and each one must be accurately positioned and locked in place by suitable individual fastening means. The arrangements are usually inconvenient and relatively inaccessible so that the procedure is tedious and time consuming, thereby adding substantially to the make-ready time required for each job;

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide improved side guide gap bridgingmeans which are convenient and automatic in operation and which eliminate the need for any separate and time consuming adjustments.

Another object is to provide gap bridging means that is adapted to expand or retract automatically upon movement of its associated side guide and which presents a substantially continuous surface to support the sheets as they pass over said gap. I An object of the invention resides in the provision of gap bridging means for a sheet registering table which are disposed in transverse alignment with the side registering devices in a manner to permit convenient adjustment of the side registering devices to accommodate sheets of different widths, the said gap bridging means automaticall y supplementing the sheet supporting surface of the table for any adjusted position of the side registering devices.

Another and more specific object is to provide gap bridging elements having depending leg portions which can be pivotally joined for connecting adjacent elements 3,227,443 Patented Jan. 4, 1966 so as to form an articulated train capable of movement along with adjustable movement of its side registering device.

With these and various other objects in View the invention may consist of certain novel features of construction and operation as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the specification, drawings and claims appended thereto. p

In the drawings which illustrate an embodiment of the device and wherein like reference characters are used to designate like parts FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a sheet registering table incorporating the improvements of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is atop plan view of the sheet registering table of FIGURE 1 showing the location of the articulated sheet supporting elements in the gap openings in the table;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken substantially along line 33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical sectional view taken centrally of the width of the supporting elements, substantially along line -44 of FIGURE 3, and showing the manner of pivotally connecting adjacent supporting elements to form an articulated set of said elements;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged view showing one of the supporting elements in front elevation; and

FIGURE 6 is an end elevational view illustrating the manner of pivotally connecting adjacent supporting elements. I v

The registering table 20 as best shownin FIGURES l and 2 essentially consists of a top board 21 of approximately rectangular shape and which is suitably fixed to and carried by the frame members 22 and 23. A front transverse member 24 connects the members at the front edge of the table and additional members such as 25 extend transversely and connect the longitudinal members 22 and 23 intermediate the table. The table consisting of the top board 21 and the connecting frame members is supported by stationary frame elements 26 and 27 located on respective sides of the table. A transverse rod 28 extends between. the frame elements 26 and 27 and said rod passes through a top recess 30 in the members 22 and 23, respectively.

Directly to the rear of the top recesses the members 22 and 23 journal the roller 31 over which pass the tapes 32 for advancing the sheets 2-9 t the forward end of the table in the well known manner. The shafts 33 and 34 extend transversely of the table 26, through the top recesses 30; and through the frame elements to extend beyond the element 26. The pinions 35 operatively connect the shafts for simultaneous rotation, since driving means, not shown, are provided by the press and which have meshing relation with the pinions. Adjustable side registering guides 36 and 38 are supported by the rod 28 and cross bar 25, and the shafts 33 and 34 provide the means for operating the side registering guides for effecting a side registering action on the sheets.

At the forward end of the table immediately to the rear of the member 24 there are provided front registering elements 40 for registering the front edge of the sheets prior to their being fed to sheet processing mechanism such as a printing press. For printing press operation, oscillating gripper mechanism 41 is provided for receiving and gripping the front registered edge of the sheets and for delivering the same to the grippers 42 on the impression cylinder 43, FIGURE 1. Reference is made to the Peyerbrune et al. Patent No. 2,474,983, granted July 5, 1949 for a full and complete description of a sheet registering table having front registering elements similar to the elements 40 of FIGURE 1.

As shown in FIGURE 2 the top board 21 of the registering table is cut away on respective sides as at 42 and 43, and which form centrally of the table the front apron 44. The gaps in the table, resulting from the cut away portions 42 and 43, and also the front apron 44 are directly over and substantially vertically aligned with the rod 28 and with the shafts 33 and 34. As a result of the gaps in the table the side registering guides 36 and 38 can be adjusted for sheets of different widths, the guides being moved to various positions within the gap openings toward the side edges of the front apron 44.

To supplement the sheet supporting surface of the table a preferred embodiment of the invention provides articulated elements 45 as shown in FIGURE 4 and which are connected to form sets, respectively, having location on each side of the front apron 44. It will also be observed that each set has a length just somewhat in excess of the length of its gap opening. Accordingly when the side registering guides are positioned for any adjusted sheet width, the gap openings are completely closed by the articulated elements. In fact one or two elements of each set may be disposed under a side edge portion of the front apron.

The gap bridging and sheet supporting element 45 are approximately U-shaped in transverse section, FIGURE 6, having a top horizontal section 46 and depending legs 47 and 48. The top section 46 of each element has an integral overhanging lip portion 50 which is slightly bent in a downward direction. Also, each of the depending legs 47 and 48 has a characteristic formation for the purpose of interlocking and pivotally connecting adjacent elements. The leg 47 of each element is bent outwardly to form a semi-circular terminal end 51 and the terminal end of leg 48 is similarly bent outwardly to form the semi-circular portion 52. The portion 51 is smaller in diameter than portion 52. More particularly in accordance with the invention portion 51 is of a size to fit within the larger portion 52 for pivotally connecting the elements. In this manner a number of the sheet supporting elements can be connected to form a set of the elements for movement as a train upon adjustment of its side registering device.

The side guides are each provided with a similar semicircular element such as 52 in FIGURE 4, to facilitate connection of the train to the guide for movement in unison therewith. Accordingly, when adjustments are imparted to the side guide the train of connected gap bridging elements will move back and forth therewith in a manner as illustrated by the broken lines in FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 4 shows a plurality of the individual sheet supporting elements 45 in pivotally connected relation whereby a train is provided which is of sufficient length to bridge the entire gap opening on the left side of the registering table when the side guide 38 is adjusted for a maximum size sheet. The track for supporting the train of the pivotally connected sheet supporting elements is provided by the transverse member 25 and the transverse bar 28. Member 25 is recessed at 53 on its right side and the bar 28 is similarly recessed at 54 on its left side. The bottom surface of the recess 53 is fiat and smooth throughout, whereas the bottom surface provided by the bar 28 is preferably formed with an upstanding projection 25. The semi-circular portion 52 of each supporting element is notched as at 56 and the notch is adapted to receive the projection 55 whereby each individual element 45 is properly supported and whereby the sheet supporting surface of the same aligns with that of the table both to the rear of and at the front of the gap openings.

The bottom surfaces of the recesses 53 and 54 extend parallel to the paper supporting surface of the table for the length of the gap openings. However, below each side edge of the front apron 44 the bottom surfaces of the recesses dip at 57 to a slight extent so that the surfaces from the dip to the center of the table on each side are disposed on a lower plane. Accordingly the track and the supporting elements are so constructed and arranged that one or more of the elements of each set are located below the apron 44. More important is the fact that the elements in each set from the apron to the particular side registering device, either 36 or 38, not only completely fill the gap opening, but said elements are elevated so that the top sheet supporting surface thereof is on the same plane as the sheet supporting surface of the table.

The invention is not to be limited to or by details of construction of the particular embodiment thereof illustrated by the drawings as various other forms of the de vice will, of course, be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a registering table for registering sheets, the combination with the sheet supporting surface of said table, of side registering devices for side registering the sheets, means extending transversely of the table and mounting the side registering devices for transverse movement whereby the devices can be adjusted for accommodating sheets of different widths, said sheet supporting surface having openings on each side of a central apron portion to permit transverse movement of the side registering devices, and means providing a substantially continuous surface for bridging said openings in a manner to supplement the sheet supporting surface of the table, said means including a series of individual gap bridging elements each of which is pivotally connected to the next adjacent gap bridging element to form a train of said elements for each opening.

2. In a registering table for registering sheets, the combination With the sheet supporting surface of said table, of side registering devices for side registering the sheets, means extending transversely of the table and mounting the side registering devices for transverse movement whereby the devices can be adjusted for accommodating sheets of different Widths, said sheet supporting surface having a central apron portion, a gap formed on each side of said central apron portion in transverse alignment with and extending from the registering device to the said central apron portion, thereby permitting transverse movement of the side registering devices, and means presenting a substantially continuous surface for bridging any portion of the gap which is exposed between the adjusted position of the side registering device and said central apron portion, said means including a series of individual gap bridging elements each of which is pivotally connected to the next adjacent gap bridging element to form a train of said elements for each gap.

3. In a registering table for registering sheets as defined by claim 2, wherein each train is movable with movement of its associated side registering device for adjustment purposes.

4. In a registering table for registering sheets as defined by claim 2, additionally including frame members extending transversely of the sheet registering table, said frame members providing track rails for supporting the train of said gap bridging elements for each opening.

5. In a registering table for registering sheets as defined by claim 2, additionally including frame members extending transversely of the sheet registering table, said frame members providing track rails for supporting the train of said gap bridging elements for each opening, and wherein each train is movable along said track rails with movement of its associated side registering device for adjustment purposes.

6. In a registering table for registering sheets, the combination with the sheet supporting surface of said table, of side registering devices for side registering the sheet, means extending transversely of the table and mounting the side registering devices for transverse movement whereby the devices can be adjusted for accommodating sheets of different widths, said sheet supporting surface having an opening therein in transverse alignment with and extending from its registering device to adjacent the center of the table, thereby permitting transverse movement of the side registering devices, and means for closing each opening in a manner to supplement the sheet supporting surface of the table, said means including gap bridging elements with adjacent elements having pivotal connection to form a train of said elements for each opening, and said individual gap bridging elements each having a top sheet supporting surface and depending side legs, each of said side legs at its terminal end being bent into a semi-circular shape.

7. In a registering table for registering sheets, the combination with the sheet supporting surface of said table, of side registering devices for side registering the sheets, means extending transversely of the table and mounting the side registering devices for transverse movement whereby the devices can be adjusted for accommodating sheets of diiferent widths, said sheet supporting surface having a central apron portion formed by gap openings in the surface extending on each side of the apron portion to its side registering device, thereby permitting transverse movement of the side registering devices, means for closing each said gap opening in a manner to supplement the sheet supporting surface of the table, said means including individual gap bridging elements with adjacent elements having pivotal connection to form a train of said elements for each opening, frame members extending transversely of the sheet registering table and providing track rails for supporting the train of said gap bridging elements for each opening, and said track rails having a formation in vertical alignment with the side edges of the central apron portion whereby the gap bridging elements are caused to pass under the said apron portion.

8. In a registering table for registering sheets as defined by claim 7, wherein said individual gap bridging elements have a top sheet supporting surface and depending side legs, and wherein each side leg at its terminal end is bent into a semi-circular shape.

9. In a sheet registering table having a sheet supporting surface, the combination of a side registering device for side registering sheets, means supporting said side registering device for adjustment transversely of said table to accommodate sheets of different Widths, a gap provided in the sheet supporting surface of said table to permit movement of the side registering device between maximum and minimum sheet width positions, and bridge means for bridging any portion of the gap which is exposed between the adjusted position of the side registering device and the minimum sheet width position, said means being connected to the side registering device for transverse movement in unison therewith and presenting a substantially continuous, sheet supporting surface over the exposed portion of the gap for any adjusted position of the side registering device.

References Cited by the Examiner M. HENSON WOOD, JR., Primary Examiner.

RAPHAEL M. LUPO, ROBERT B. REEVES,

. Examiners. 

1. IN A REGISTERING TABLE FOR REGISTERING SHEETS, THE COMBINATION WITH THE SHEET SUPPORTING SURFACE OF SAID TABLE, OF SIDE REGISTERING DEVICES FOR SIDE REGISTERING THE SHEETS, MEANS EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF THE TABLE AND MOUNTING THE SIDE REGISTERING DEVICES FOR TRANSVERSE MOVEMENT WHEREBY THE DEVICES CAN BE ADJUSTED FOR ACCOMMODATING SHEETS OF DIFFERENT WIDTHS, SAID SHEET SUPPORTING SURFACE HAVING OPENINGS ON EACH SIDE OF A CENTRAL APRON PORTION TO PERMIT TRANSVERSE MOVEMENT OF THE SIDE REGISTERING DEVICES, AND MEANS PROVIDING A SUBSTANTIALLY CONTINUOUS 